Damping positioner

ABSTRACT

A damping positioner is installed in a headrail track of an automatic roll-up blind and works with an automatic winding mechanism of the roll-up blind. The damping positioner includes a positioner that is disposed in the headrail track as well as a damper that is connected at an end of the positioner and is able to rotate freely. An interior of the damper is provided with a spring assembly, a gear assembly and a brake set. The winding speed of the roll-up blind is controlled by the gear assembly and the brake set, such that the roll-up blind can be rolled up moderately. Moreover, the damping positioner is installed in the headrail track without being exposed; therefore, the integrity of appearance of the roll-up blind can be reserved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a damping positioner, and moreparticularly to a damping positioner that is used in a headrail track ofan automatic roll-up blind and works with an automatic winding mechanism(i.e., torsional spring device), thereby controlling the winding speedof the roll-up blind and the final stop location of the roll-up blindafter rolling up the roll-up blind.

b) Description of the Prior Art

There are two kinds of roll-up blinds in the market: a manual roll-upblind, and an automatic roll-up blind.

The manual roll-up blind is provided with a winding mechanism and aloop-shaped cord at a side of the roll-up blind. The loop-shaped cord ispulled repeatedly by both hands to drive the headrail track of theroll-up blind, such that the curtain that is connected with the headrailtrack can be driven to roll upward or expand downward.

On the other hand, the automatic roll-up blind is provided with anautomatic winding mechanism and a stop device at each end of theheadrail track, respectively. The headrail track is driven by theautomatic winding mechanism, such that the curtain that is connectedwith the headrail track can be driven to roll upward.

The existing automatic winding mechanism uses primarily the elasticrestoration of the torsional spring to drive the headrail track and theconnected curtain, such that the curtain can be expanded downward androlled upward. Firstly, the torsional spring is set up and tightened toa specific position in advance according to the weight of the curtainused, thereby driving the headrail track to rotate and roll up thecurtain that is connected with the track successfully. When the curtainis expanded downward, the spring in the headrail track will rotate moretightly. On the contrary, when the spring is loosened, the elasticrestoration will drive the headrail track again to rotate to thepre-determined location and roll up the connected curtain, therebyachieving the effect of automatically rolling up the curtain.

According to the above description, the existing automatic windingmechanism uses primarily the torsional spring to drive the headrailtrack and the connected curtain to rotate. However, if the elasticrestoration force of the torsional spring is too large, then the curtaincan be easily rolled up too fast, which results in collision and givesout unpleasant noises. Moreover, this collision can damage the blind andhurt a user accidentally. On the contrary, if the elastic restorationforce of the torsional spring is too small, then the curtain cannot berolled up successfully.

Accordingly, how to control the winding speed of the roll-up blind is anissue to be solved for blind manufacturers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide adamping positioner, and more particularly a damping positioner that isused in a headrail track of an automatic roll-up blind and works with anautomatic winding mechanism (i.e., torsional spring device), so as tocontrol the winding speed of the roll-up blind and the final stoplocation of the roll-up blind after rolling up the roll-up blind.

To achieve the abovementioned object, the damping positioner of thepresent invention includes a positioner that is disposed in the headrailtrack as well as a damper that is connected at an end of the positionerand is able to rotate freely. The damper includes a movable cap which ispivoted at an end of the positioner and is linked with the positioner; aspring assembly which is provided with a connecting rod, an end of theconnecting rod being connected with the movable cap, a spring which issheathed at another end of the connecting rod, and a collar which issheathed outside the connecting rod and the spring; a gear assemblywhich is disposed at another side of the collar of the spring assemblyopposite to the connecting rod; a brake set which is disposed at anotherside of the gear assembly opposite to the connecting rod; an outer capwhich is sheathed outside the spring assembly, the gear assembly and thebrake set, with an end of the outer cap being pivoted on the movable capand rotating on the movable cap; and a fixed cap which is fixed atanother side of the outer cap opposite to the movable cap.

An interior of the outer cap, opposite to the gear assembly, is furtherprovided annularly with a thread, allowing the outer cap to be linkedwith the gear assembly.

An end of the collar of the spring assembly, in proximity to the gearassembly, is further protruded with plural first positioning rods.

The gear assembly further includes a first gear set which is composed ofa first driving plate and plural first gears, wherein and end of thefirst driving plate in proximity to the first positioning rods isextended toward the first positioning rods with a first driving wheel,with the first driving wheel and the first gears being gnawed togetherand sheathed on the first positioning rods.

Another end of the first driving plate away from the first positioningrods is further protruded with plural second positioning rods. The gearassembly further includes a second gear set which is composed of asecond driving plate and plural second gears. An end of the seconddriving plate in proximity to the second positioning rods is extendedtoward the second positioning rods with a second driving wheel, with thesecond driving wheel and the second gears being gnawed together andsheathed on the second positioning rods.

Another end of the second driving plate away from the second positioningrods is further protruded with at least a support rod; whereas, thebrake set is sheathed on the support rod, swings inside the outer capagainst the support rod and rubs with an interior of the outer cap.

The winding speed of the automatic winding mechanism (i.e., torsionalspring device) at another end inside the headrail track of a roll-upblind is controlled by the gear assembly and the brake set, allowing theroll-up blind to be rolled up moderately. On the other hand, as thedamping positioner is installed in the headrail track without beingexposed, the integrity of appearance of the roll-up blind can bereserved.

Another object of the damping positioner of the present invention is toadjust the final stop location of the roll-up blind after rolling up theroll-up blind, such that the roll-up blind will not be rolled upcompletely to a top end, but will stop at a specified location from thetop end. Therefore, the stop location after rolling up the roll-up blindcan be set up according to a user's preference, which further solves atrouble that when completely rolling up the roll-up blind that isinstalled at a higher window, the user cannot touch the roll-up blindwith hands as the roll-up blind is too high, but instead has to climbhigh using a stool or a ladder that he or she can touch and expand theroll-up blind again.

To achieve the above object, the positioner of the present inventionfurther includes a fixed base, a fixed rod and a fixed ring. An end ofthe fixed base is provided with a through-hole and another end of thefixed base is provided with a fixed plate. The fixed rod is transfixedin the through-hole of the fixed base, and is extended toward the fixedplate of the fixed base with a screw. A tail end of the screw is clippedon the fixed plate and the fixed ring is locked on the screw of thefixed rod.

Another end of the screw opposite to the fixed rod is further extendedwith a pivoting member which is fixed on the movable cap of the damper.

Another end of the fixed rod opposite to the screw is indented with anadjustment slot.

The positioner further includes a tail-plug fixed base, and thetail-plug fixed base is extended toward an interior of the adjustmentslot with a protection bump which can be locked into the adjustmentslot.

The positioner further includes an O-ring, and the O-ring is sheathed atan engagement place between the fixed rod and the screw.

Accordingly, a tool or a Philips screw driver can be inserted into theadjustment slot to rotate the fixed rod, thereby driving the screw. Inaddition, the fixed ring will be driven by the screw to stay on anylocation of the screw, thereby achieving the effect of adjusting thefinal stop location after rolling up the roll-up blind.

To enable a further understanding of the said objectives and thetechnological methods of the invention herein, the brief description ofthe drawings below is followed by the detailed description of thepreferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a damper of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a first cutaway view of the damper of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of the damper relative to a first gear set,according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway view of a first location of a brake set,according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of a second location of the brake set,according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of a positioner of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the positioner,according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the damping positioner of the presentinvention is disposed in a headrail track of a roll-up blind (not shownin the drawings as it belongs to a prior art), and comprises primarily apositioner 10 and a damper 20. The positioner 10 is disposed in theheadrail track; whereas, the damper 20 is connected at another end ofthe positioner 10.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the damper 20 includes a movable cap 30,a spring assembly 40, a gear assembly 50, a brake set 60, an outer cap70 and a fixed cap 80.

An end of the movable cap 30 is connected with the positioner 10 (asshown in FIG. 1); whereas, another end of the movable cap 30 is providedwith a containing space 31. A center of the containing space 31 isprotruded with a protruded member 32, an interior of the protrudedmember 32 is provided with a square-shaped slot 33, and a side wall ofthe containing space 31 is protruded with at least a latch block 34.

The spring assembly 40 is provided with a connecting rod 41, an end ofwhich being connected at the movable cap 30; a spring 42 which issheathed at another end of the connecting rod 41; and a collar 43 whichis sheathed outside the connecting rod 41 and the spring 42. Theconnecting rod 41 is in a shape of a square body and is inserted in theslot 33 of the movable cap 30; whereas, another end of the connectingrod 41 away from the movable cap 30 is provided with a pillar 44. Thespring 42 is sheathed outside the pillar 44 and is used to produce anelastic restoration force. An interior of the collar 43 is empty and issheathed outside the pillar 44 and the spring 42; whereas, an endsurface on a side of the collar 43 away from the connecting rod 41 isprotruded outward with plural first positioning rods 45.

The gear assembly 50 is disposed at another side of the collar 43 of thespring assembly 40 away from the connecting rod 41, and includes a firstgear set 51 and a second gear set 52. The first gear set 51 is composedof a first driving plate 511 and plural first gears 512. An end of thefirst driving plate 511 in proximity to the first positioning rods 45 isprotruded toward the first positioning rods 45 with a first drivingwheel 513. The first driving wheel 513 and plural first gears 512 aregnawed together and sheathed on the first positioning rods 45; whereas,another end of the first driving plate 511 away from the firstpositioning rods 45 is further protruded with plural second positioningrods 514.

The second gear set 52 is composed of a second driving plate 521 andplural second gears 522. An end of the second driving plate 521 inproximity to the second positioning rods 514 is protruded toward thesecond positioning rods 514 with a second driving wheel 523. The seconddriving wheel 523 and the second gears 522 are gnawed together andsheathed on the second positioning rods 514; whereas, another end of thesecond driving plate 521 away from the second positioning rods 514 isfurther protruded with a central shaft 524 and at least a support rod525. In the present embodiment, there are two support rods 525.

The brake set 60 is disposed at another end of the gear assembly 40 awayfrom the connecting rod 41 and is composed of two brake pads 61 in thepresent embodiment, wherein each brake pad 61 is in a shape of acrescent and a side of the brake pad 61 is provided with a borehole 62which is sheathed on the support rod 525, such that each brake pad 61can swing against the support rod 525. Additionally, a through-hole 63is formed between the two brake pads 61 and is sheathed outside thecentral shaft 524 of the second driving plate 521.

The outer cap 70 is sheathed outside the spring assembly 40, the gearassembly 50 and the brake set 60. An end of the outer cap 70 inproximity to the movable cap 30 is protruded toward the movable cap 30with a protruded member 71. The protruded member 71 is protruded intothe containing space 31 of the movable cap 30, and a front edge of theprotruded member 71 is formed with a latch member 72. The latch member72 is a little larger than the protruded member 71, therefore the latchmember 72 can be fastened with the latch block 34 of the movable cap 30,and the outer cap 70 can be pivoted on the movable cap 30 and rotate onthe movable cap 30. Furthermore, an interior of the outer cap 70opposite to the gear assembly 50 is further provided annularly with athread 73 which can be gnawed with the first gears 512 and the secondgears 522.

The fixed cap 80 is fixed at another end of the outer cap 70 away fromthe movable cap 30, allowing the spring assembly 40, the gear assembly50 and the brake set 60 to be actually installed in the outer cap 70.

Referring to FIG. 5, as the interior of the outer cap 70 opposite to thegear assembly 50 is provided annularly with the thread 73, the firstdriving wheel 513, plural first gears 512 and the thread 73 of the outercap 70 will be gnawed with one another. When the first driving wheel 513rotates, the first gears 512 will be driven, and then the outer cap 70will be driven to rotate by the first gears 512, allowing the outer cap70 to reduce the rotation speed of the headrail track. Besides that,through the gnawing among the first driving wheel 513, plural firstgears 512 and the thread 73, the outer cap 70 can rotate more smoothly,allowing the curtain to be rolled up more steadily.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the brake set 60 includes primarily twobrake pads 61 and each brake pad 61 will swing inside the outer cap 70against the support rod 525. Therefore, when the outer cap 70 rotates,each brake pad 61 will swing outward against the support rod 525 by thecentrifugal force, allowing the brake pads 61 to rub with an inner sideof the outer cap 70, so as to decrease the rotation speed of the outercap 70 and slow down the winding speed of the automatic windingmechanism (i.e., torsional spring device) at another end in the headrailtrack, in order to achieve the braking effect while controlling thewinding of the roll-up blind. In the present embodiment, two brake pads61 are used as an example, but in practical operations, there can be oneor three or more brake pads 61.

Accordingly, the winding speed of the automatic winding mechanism (i.e.,torsional spring device) at another end in the headrail track of theroll-up blind is controlled by the gear assembly 50 (as shown in FIG. 5)and the brake set 60, allowing the roll-up blind to be rolled upmoderately. In addition, as the damping positioner is installed in theheadrail track without being exposed, the integrity of appearance of theroll-up blind can be reserved.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the positioner 10 further includes afixed base 11, a fixed rod 12, an O-ring 13 and a fixed ring 14.

An end of the fixed base 11 is provided with a through-hole 111, andanother end of the fixed base 11 is extended outward with a fixed plate112. The fixed plate 112 is provided with a fixed hole 113, and thefixed rod 12 is transfixed in the through-hole 111 of the fixed base 11.A side of the fixed rod 12 is extended with a screw 121. A tail end 122of the screw 121 is clipped in the fixed hole 113 on the fixed plate 112and is further extended outward with a pivoting member 123. The O-ring13 is sheathed at an engagement place between the fixed rod 12 and thescrew 121; whereas, the fixed ring 14 is locked on the screw 121 of thefixed rod 12, and can rotate by the screw 121 to displace on the screw121.

Moreover, a side of the fixed rod 12 away from the screw 121 is indentedwith an adjustment slot 124, and the positioner 10 further includes atail-plug fixed base 15 which is locked on a wall bracket (not shown inthe drawings as it belongs to a prior art) used to fix the roll-up blindon the wall. A side of the tail-plug fixed base 15 is extended with aprotection bump 151 which can be locked into the adjustment slot 124 ofthe fixed rod 12. The fixed rod 12 can be fixed by locking theprotection bump 151 into the adjustment slot 124, which prevents frombeing unable to set up the damping positioner caused by rotating thescrew 121 accidentally.

A tool or a Phillips screwdriver (not shown in the drawings) can beinserted into the adjustment slot 124 and then rotates to drive thescrew 121. Referring to FIG. 2 at a same time, the rotation of the screw121 will drive the fixed ring 14 to displace, and when the fixed ring 14is located very close to the engagement place between the fixed rod 12and the screw 121, the roll-up blind will be completely rolled up to atop end. On the other hand, when the fixed ring 14 is adjusted to moveaway from the fixed rod 12, the final stop location of the roll-up blindthat has been rolled up will be also away from the top end. Therefore,by the adjustment with a tool or a Phillips screwdriver, the stoplocation after rolling up the roll-up blind can be set up according to auser's preference, thereby solving the trouble that when completelyrolling up the roll-up blind which is installed at a higher window, theuser cannot touch the roll-up blind with hands as the roll-up blind istoo high, but instead has to climb high using a stool or a ladder thathe or she can touch and expand the roll-up blind again.

Moreover, when the tool is removed, the protection bump 151 of thetail-plug fixed base 15 can be plugged into the adjustment slot 24 toprevent from rotating the screw 121 accidentally and to protect theintegrity of the adjustment slot 124.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described hereinis merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that awide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A damping positioner being installed in aheadrail track of a roll-up blind and comprising: a positioner, thepositioner is disposed in the headrail track; and a damper, the damperis connected at an end of the positioner and includes: a movable cap,the movable cap is pivoted at the end of the positioner and is linkedwith the positioner; a spring assembly, the spring assembly is providedwith a connecting rod, with one end of the connecting rod beingconnected at the movable cap, and a spring which is sheathed at anotherend of the connecting rod by a collar which encloses the connecting rodand the spring; a gear assembly, the gear assembly is disposed adjacentto the collar of the spring assembly opposite the connecting rod in alongitudinal direction; a brake set, the brake set is disposed adjacentto the gear assembly opposite the collar in the longitudinal direction;an outer cap, wherein the outer cap encloses the spring assembly, thegear assembly and the brake set, with an end of the outer cap beingpivoted on the movable cap and rotating on the movable cap, and whereinthe gear assembly and the brake set engage directly with the outer cap;and a fixed cap, the fixed cap is fixed at another end of the outer capopposite the movable cap.
 2. The damping positioner according to claim1, wherein an interior of the outer cap, surrounding the gear assembly,is further provided annularly with a thread allowing the outer cap toengage with the gear assembly.
 3. The damping positioner according toclaim 1, wherein an end of the collar of the spring assembly, inproximity to the gear assembly, further includes plural firstpositioning rods protruding towards the gear assembly.
 4. The dampingpositioner according to claim 3, wherein the gear assembly includes afirst gear set, the first gear set comprises a first driving plate andplural first gears, one end of the first driving plate in proximity tothe first positioning rods is connected to a first driving wheel whichextends towards the first positioning rods, the first driving wheel andthe first gears engage each other and are sheathed on the firstpositioning rods.
 5. The damping positioner according to claim 4,wherein another end of the first driving plate opposite the firstpositioning rods further includes plural second positioning rodsprotruding away from the first gear set, the gear assembly furtherincludes a second gear set, the second gear set is composed of a seconddriving plate and plural second gears, one end of the second drivingplate in proximity to the second positioning rods is connected to seconddriving wheel which extends towards the first positioning rods, thesecond driving wheel and the second gears engage each other and aresheathed on the second positioning rods.
 6. The damping positioneraccording to claim 5, wherein another end of the second driving plateopposite the second positioning rods further includes a support rodprotruding away from the second gear set, and the brake set beingsheathed on the support rod.
 7. The damping positioner according toclaim 1, wherein the positioner further includes a fixed base, a fixedrod and a fixed ring, one end of the fixed base is provided with athrough-hole, another end of the fixed base is provided with a fixedplate, the fixed plate is transfixed in the through-hole of the fixedbase, the fixed rod includes a screw extending towards the fixed plateof the fixed base, a tail end of the screw is clipped on the fixedplate, and the fixed ring is locked on the screw of the fixed rod. 8.The damping positioner according to claim 7, wherein another end of thescrew opposite the fixed rod further includes a pivoting member, and thepivoting member is fixed to the movable cap of the damper.
 9. Thedamping positioner according to claim 7, wherein one end of the fixedrod opposite to the screw is indented with an adjustment slot.
 10. Thedamping positioner according to claim 9, wherein the positioner furtherincludes a tail-plug fixed base and the tail-plug fixed base extendstowards an interior of the adjustment slot with a protection bump whichis locked into the adjustment slot.
 11. The damping positioner accordingto claim 7, wherein the positioner further includes an O-ring and theO-ring sheaths an engagement place between the fixed rod and the screw.